- Phone:
- (812) 855-8534
- Email:
- wajayawa@indiana.edu
- Campus:
- IU Bloomington
Health: Feasibility of a Theory-Driven, Rurally Tailored, Family-Based, Telehealth Intervention for Childhood Obesity: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Project abstract
Addressing obesity, diabetes, and physical activity has been identified as a pressing need in Orange County Indiana. Pediatric obesity interventions should be lengthy enough to demonstrate an effect. In rural areas, however, retention of families for a long duration remains a challenge; this can be addressed via telehealth. This is a single-blind, cluster randomized controlled feasibility trial of a theory-driven, family-based, rurally tailored, 4-month-long, telehealth intervention, aimed at sustainable behavioral changes that reduce overweight and obesity among 5-11-year-old children (N=40). Neighborhoods are assigned to telehealth intervention or active attention wait-list control. When the control group receives the intervention, the group which completed the intervention is followed up for sustainability of outcomes. This 4-month telehealth program consists of weekly videoconferencing calls with individual families and groups of families (1-hour sessions; 12 in total). Apart from video calls, the research team interacts with families weekly via text messages and emails (15 minutes per week; 4 hours in total), and sends video and audio clips, etc. Intervention involves a multidisciplinary team, consisting of but not limited to nursing professionals, motivational interviewing experts, pediatricians, nutritionists, and researchers. Body mass index, adiposity, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and social functioning are outcomes for children. Theory of Planned Behavior is utilized to assess parental outcomes. Intervention fidelity and retention feasibility are also assessed. While families receive 2GB data and a gift card for every month of participation, they will receive an iPad for the period of intervention. Southern Indiana Pediatricians group helps with family recruitment and retention.
Campus partners
- School of Nursing-Bloomington
Community partners
Southern Indiana Pediatrics
Counties involved
Orange